Andrew Jebb, prosecuting at Caernarfon Crown Court, said Bailey pushed the gun into the ribs of the young man and warned him: "Give me your f***ing money or I'll blow your heart out. You won't be f***ing missed."

The victim handed over the cash and cigarettes. Bailey then moved the gun from his ribs to his head, with the young man pressed against a wall.

He then put the gun into the victim's back, and frogmarched him back to the main street, before releasing him.

The victim remained rooted to the spot for a couple of minutes, almost too scared to move, the court heard.

Police were called and, after the deployment of their helicopter and a sniffer dog, Bailey was arrested in woods on the road to Nantlle.

The barrister revealed that in January magistrates at Caernarfon placed Bailey on a community rehabilitation order for being in possession of a kitchen knife.

Anthony Rose, defending, asked for full credit to be given to Bailey for pleading guilty at the first possible opportunity, which had led to the case being disposed of quickly without any need for the victim to testify.